Device for smoothing wallpaper and the like



May 16, O. Hf 055 DEVICE FOR SMOOTHING WALLPAPER AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 21, 1938 AAA/MA AAAAAAAA MAM/MAM 1 AAAAAAAAIAAAAAAAAAA-fl T vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv vvv/VQVv v L AAAAAAA fig Z INVENTOR. Oscar .77 (7 066.

BY I

ATTO EYS.

A wn gvg Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THE Oscar H. Foss, Wooste LIKE 1', Ohio, assignor to The Wooster Brush Company, Wooster, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 21 Claims.

This invention relates, as indicated, to devices for smoothing wall paper and the like, but has reference more particularly to a device of this character in the nature of a tool which is int tended to replace the ordinary types of bristle brushes used for this purpose in the paper-hanging art.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which I will be somewhat less expensive to manufacture than the ordinary paperhangers smoothing or dry brushes, but which will perform the functions of such brushes in at least as good, and in some cases a somewhat better, manner.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain structure embodying the invention, such disclosed structure constituting, however, but one of various structural forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a preferred form of the device:

Fig. 2 is a view of the working edge of the device;

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the device taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view of the device taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the device consists essentially of .a handle or handle member I formed of a relatively rigid and light material such as wood or any other suitable material, and a pair of smooth bodies 2 in the form of strips made of a relatively flex- 40 ible material, such, for example, as sponge rubber, felt, leather, plastics, etc.

The handle member I has formed in the lower edge thereof a recess 3 within which are disposed the upper marginal portions 4 of the strips 2, the strips being removably secured to the handle I as by means of bolts 5 and nuts 6, the bolts extending through the portions of the handle which define the recess 3 and aforesaid marginal portions of the strips as shown more particularly in Fig. 3. Instead of bolts and nuts, other devices may be employed for securing the strips 2 to the handle member, as for example, tacks, rivets, thumb screws, clamps, etc.

The strips 2 are in juxtaposed relation and the upper edges thereof are substantially co-exten- 1938, Serial No. 236,223 (Cl. 216-61) sive in length with the recessed edge of the handle I. The lower edges of the strips 2 are considerably longer than the upper edges thereof so as to provide triangular shaped end portions! which facilitate the use of the device in the corners of a room.

In order to increase the flexibility of the lower portions of the strips 2 and to avoid undue frictional resistance tomovement of such portions of the strips during the use of the device, the outer faces of the strips have formed therein adjacent the lower or unsecured edges of the strips a series of spaced notches 8, these notches increasing in width and depth as the aforesaid unsecured edges are approached.

The devices are used precisely in the same manner as an ordinary paperhangers smooth or dry brush so that further description of the use thereof is believed unnecessary. It may be noted, however, that the strips which are used are generally of such a character as to be somewhat less expensive than the bristles of brushes which are now used for the same purpose, that the strips are secured to the handle in a manner which is much less expensive than the methods generally used for securing brush bristles to a handle and that the entire cost of the device is thus reduced. Moreover, replacement of the strips when Worn is a relatively simple and inexpensive matter.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a handle of rigid material, and a pair of bodies of flexible material secured to said handle adjacent one edge of the latter, said bodies being continuous for substantially the entire length of said handle, and having in their outer faces adjacent their unsecured edges spaced notches or recesses, each of which gradually increases in width and depth as said unsecured edges are approached.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a handle of rigid material, and a pair of bodies of flexible material secured to said handle adjacent one edge of the latter, said bodies being continuous for substantially the entire length of said handle, and having in their outer faces adjacent their unsecured edges spaced notches or recesses, the depth of which is less than the thickness of the body containing said notches.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a handle of rigid material, and a pair of bodies of flexible material secured to said handle adjacent one edge of the latter, said bodies being continuous for substantially the entire length of said handle and having in their outer faces adjacent their unsecured edges spaced notches or recesses, each of which gradually increases in width as said unsecured edges are approached.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a handle of rigid material, and a pair of bodies of flexible material secured to said handle adjacent one edge of the latter, said bodies being continuous for substantially the entire length of said handle and having in their outer faces adjacent their unsecured edges spaced notches or recesses, each of which gradually increases in depth as said unsecured edges are approached.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a handle of rigid material, and a body of flexible material secured to said handle adjacent one edge of the latter, said body being continuous for substantially the entire length of said handle, and having in one face thereof adjacent its unsecured edge spaced notches or recesses, each of which gradually increases in width and depth as said unsecured edge is approached.

OSCAR H. FOSS. 

